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Wind turbine plans thrown out
Wednesday 7th November 2007, 11:30AM GMT.
Controversial plans for a weather-testing mast in Essington which could have led to a 119-metre wind turbine dominating the skyline have been thrown out amid claims it would distract drivers on the M54 and M6.
Around 40 members of South Staffordshire District Council’s regulatory committee last night voted unanimously against the proposals by Essington company Ibstock Bricks. The firm wanted to build a 40-metre temporary structure at its quarry in Warstone Road.
It would have been used to measure wind flow for 18 months to see if the site in the village was suitable for a multi-million pound turbine.
The committee was instructed to consider the plans only on the basis of the weather-testing mast and not the eventual wind turbine, which would have been put forward at a later date.
But Councillor Patricia Griffin, chairing the meeting, said she felt the issue could not be discussed properly without considering the wind turbine.
She said: “This will be a distraction to drivers on the M6 and M54 at Junctions 10 and 10A, which are already accident blackspots.”
Read the full story in today’s Express & Star.
Controversial plans for a weather-testing mast in Essington which could have led to a 119-metre wind turbine dominating the skyline have been thrown out amid claims it would distract drivers on the M54 and M6.
Around 40 members of South Staffordshire District Council’s regulatory committee last night voted unanimously against the proposals by Essington company Ibstock Bricks. The firm wanted to build a 40-metre temporary structure at its quarry in Warstone Road.
It would have been used to measure wind flow for 18 months to see if the site in the village was suitable for a multi-million pound turbine.
The committee was instructed to consider the plans only on the basis of the weather-testing mast and not the eventual wind turbine, which would have been put forward at a later date.
But Councillor Patricia Griffin, chairing the meeting, said she felt the issue could not be discussed properly without considering the wind turbine.
She said: “This will be a distraction to drivers on the M6 and M54 at Junctions 10 and 10A, which are already accident blackspots.”
District and parish councillor David Clifft said: “This planning application had been controversial with residents living in Essington.
“Ibstock totally disregarded the views of local residents and the impact a 119-metre wind turbine would have had on the community.
“The company was invited to attend a public meeting to address residents but failed to do so. I have asked directors to hold a consultation process with the community, which they were going to consider, but as yet no decision has been reached.”
Resident Syliva Wright, aged 60, of Hawthorne Road, said: “It would have been a blight on people’s lives.”
Ibstock said the plans were put forward as a way of balancing the amount of energy the company used.
They said the temporary mast would have measured data to make sure there was a consistent source of wind power at the site before a permanent turbine.
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“This will be a distraction to drivers on the M6 and M54 ”
Oh please, I know this country has more than its fair share of ‘intellectually challenged’ citizens but come on, what a lame excuse. Last year, on holiday, I drove through large parts of Europe and guess what? Large wind turbines and indeed wind farms right next to the motorway in several countries. Not a motorway pile up in site.
Best be careful where we site electricity pylons in future then. Too near the road and we’ll all crash and burn as we crane our necks to view their steely slendour.
And lo, the morons did take control …
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why not site the turbine around junction 6 of the M6, there are always roadworks going on there (M6 down to one lane again late last night) and we would be able to look at it from our once again stationary vehicles and not get distracted and cause a pile up. for gods sake patricia griffin stop behaving like a muppet.
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So we are on the cusp of a major global warming catastrophe, but still people have the ‘not in my backyard’ mindset? Grow up!
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It appears that the council members have not done any homework on this at all this country has already got one windfarm right by the side of the M6 motorway on shap fell.
When will negative minded people wake up we need these turbines they are quiet low to maintane with no pollution and are quite pleasing to the eye, we should be welcoming more turbines and less nuclear power station. get a grip on reality and power for future generations.
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I must remember how distracting this is when I drive on the M4 near Bridgend, on the moors near Huddersfield and across Shap Fell. In each of these places you can clearly see turbines, as you can in France near Dunkirk
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As an ex-Midlander now living in an area with several wind turbine farms near, I can assure Sparky that they are not quiet for local residents and are most certainly not pleasing to look at except at a distance of several miles.
Whilst accepting that any power produced is clean, bear in mind that no wind means no power produced, and at the best of times the only major benefit the turbines provide is to the pockets of the companies who supply,erect and maintain them, not in the amount of energy contributed to the National Grid.
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another own goal, will they put a “much less distracting” nuclear power plant there instead. I believe nuclear fallout is “distracting” for generations.
Clearly a decision based on profound ignorance.
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Distracting? As people have noted previously there are numerous places across the UK where wind farms are located near major roads. And to the best of my knowledge – accicdents usually happen due to drivers being too close to the person infront or not checking mirrors etc – not because of a wind turbine on a hill over 1/2 a mile away…
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p.s i’d be much happier to have a wind turbine in my back garden over an electricity pylon or a mobile phone mast any day of the week………
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South Staffordshire District Council’s regulatory committee suffer from ‘not in my backyard’ – lets just hope that global warming is a figment of someones imagination
A lame excuse – it will distract – we need more. not less wind turbines
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I agree with Fanny, NIMBY’s the lot of them. Well they can put it in my back garden if they want. The folk around here are more concerned as to how they will get through everyday life than they are about windmills.
At the end of the day, as fuel prices rise due to scarcity it’s the poor who will suffer most, whilst those better off in their quaint villages will just moan about how much more it costs to run their fleet of 4×4′s.
It’s about time we all woke up and realised that we just cannot go on as we have been doing. Whether you believe in Climate Change or not, fossil fuel resource are depleting faster than they can replace themselves and the time for change has come.
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Another victory for the nimby’s of Essington and a loss to GB.
Hang your heads in shame, residents of Essington !!
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I find it astounding that a grown adult, and appointed councillor has the audacity to announce “The wind mast cannot be erected as it will be a distraction to passing motorists”.
I was not at the meeting, but cannot begin to believe this was not met with a choir of laughter and hysterics.
You could not make it up!
How ironic that plans for the HUGE advertising hoarding (“Europe’s BIGGEST M-way sign”) on the very same M6 adjacent to Bescot stadium have been given the go ahead.
So, the council turns down a structure which would provide much needed clean energy, only for the next council to approve a (and I quote) “Illuminated V-shape sign equivalent to a five story building” with the sole purpose of generating advertising revenue for the local football club!
Someone got it badly wrong here. Go figure!!
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It would be interesting to know whether commentators here are actually familiar with the potential output and efficiency of wind turbines??
Having been to a presentation about the proposed site in Heath Hayes, Burntwood, Cannock. The proposed 3 x 100m tall turbines there are estimated to produce a combined output at best of energy for 3600 households! Bearing in mind wind turbines only have a 20%-30% efficiency rate I assume the output could be much less.
I really do not feel that the siting of 1 turbine (providing energy for 1000 households at best) here and there is going to combat our battle over global warming.
Sure they are a good idea, but why not stick hundreds of them out at sea where they are not affecting anyone in terms of blight on the landscape, noise and not creating light flicker.
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